Kern River Photo Gallery

Pacific Storm Headed Our Way. Upper Kern Over 1000 cfs.
February 25, 2010

Yesterday's storm was a little warmer than recent storms and pushed the flow on the Upper Kern up over 1000 cfs. A strong Pacific storm system is expected to produce heavy snow in the Sierra Friday into Saturday, and more snow is a possibility next week. Before this latest storm, the flow on the Upper Kern was already edging upward -- we expect an early start to one of the best boating seasons in years!

Winter Boating on Brush Creek
February 7, 2010

Click the pic to zoom in on the boaters!

View from Jordon Peak Toward Olancha Peak (SWFRS)
January 27, 2010 at 10:09 a.m. PST

Another photo from Jordon Peak. Olancha Peak is the prominent peak in the distance.

View from Jordon Peak (SWFRS)
January 27, 2010 at 9:52 a.m. PST

Last week's series of storms left the Kern snowpack at about double what it was on New Year's. With the Southern Section Sierra snowpack reported at about 125% of normal for the date, we've got a great start on what could turn out to be the best paddling season in several years.

HPC 3 Day Precipitation Forecast
Ending Friday Afternoon at 4:00 p.m.

A series of storms reminiscent of some of the big El Nino years has been dumping rain and snow on California, and the storminess is expected to continue through Friday. Snow sensors in the Kern River basin have recorded about 1.5 to 2.5 inches water equivalent of snow since Sunday, and the basin is forecast to receive another 2.5 inches water equivalent by Friday.

Precipitation Outlook (NCEP GFS data)
January 14 - 22, 2010

It's been a while since we've seen an extended forecast with as much precipitation as is projected in current GFS model runs. The upper level pattern that appears to be developing is similar to 500 mb patterns seen in some of the big El Niño years, such as 1958, 1978, 1983, 1995, and 1998.

California Snow Water Content
As of January 4, 2010 (California Cooperative Snow Surveys)

As we start the new year there is a hint of an El Nino snowfall pattern in the Sierra, but were still waiting for (and expecting) that first big El Nino event. Even so, most of the Kern snow sensors are normal or above normal for the date, averaging about one-third of the normal seasonal snowpack.

New Sierra Snow from Sherman Peak
December 14, 2009 at 7:28 a.m. PST

Snow sensors in the Kern River basin have recorded the equivalent of about 2 to 5 feet of snow since last Thursday. The series of storms was associated with the enhancement of El Niño convection in the equatorial Pacific by the active phase of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO).

Snowy Holiday View from Sherman Peak
November 28, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. PST

Snow sensors in the Kern River basin recorded about 1.5 to 2.5 inches snow water equivalent from Monday's storm, and more is on the way, beginning sometime on Thursday, and continuing through at least Sunday.

View from Sherman Peak to Kern Headwaters
November 12, 2009 at 8:30 PST

View from Sherman Peak web cam #2 over Schaeffer Mountain to Kern River near Hole in the Ground and Grasshopper Flat. Shadowed peak on left is Angora Mountain.

Brush Creek Video by Brett Duxbury

We've already had our first big Sierra storm, and in addition to dumping snow at the higher elevations, it soaked the ground, priming it for the Spring 2010 runoff! Here's a Brett Duxbury video of Liz Brackbill, Geno Hacker, Marc Vernon, and Rebecca & Eric Giddens paddling a sudsy Brush Creek on October 14. (Some browser/plug-in/connection combinations are slow to start.)

NOAA 2009-2010 Winter Outlook
Released October 15, 2009

NOAA has released their initial 2009-2010 Winter Outlook. According to NOAA, the outlook for December through February indicates a " slight tilt in the odds toward wetter-than-average conditions" for California. The IRI Multi Model Seasonal Forecast for Dec-Jan-Feb also indicates above average precipitation is somewhat more likely in California.

AHPS Observed Precipitation
For 7-days Ending 10/15/09 at 5:00 a.m. PDT

A potent early season Pacific storm carrying the remnants of West Pacific typhoon Melor hammered California, setting numerous rainfall records, increasing river flows, and producing heavy snow at the higher elevations of the Sierra.

In the upper Kern River drainage, precipitation totals generally ranged from 3 to 5 inches. Johnsondale recorded over 4 inches. Snow levels were high. Upper Tyndall Creek at 11,400' recorded 3.5 inches SWE. All the rain and snow popped the Upper Kern up to near 3000 cfs yesterday.